'Death Planet' Confirmed for New Predator Film, Inspired by Shadow of the Colossus

The debut trailer for *Predator: Badlands* has ignited a flurry of questions and excitement among fans, particularly regarding the design of the new Predator. In an insightful interview with Bloody Disgusting, director Dan Trachtenberg unveiled several intriguing details about the film, including his unique vision for the iconic sci-fi hunter.

The new Predator, named Dek, is portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. Unlike the typical Yautja antagonists seen in previous Predator movies, Dek is an underdog "runt" who takes on the protagonist role. His journey unfolds on a "Death Planet" called Kalisk, where he strives to prove his worth to his father and earn acceptance within his clan.

Dek's design diverges from that of previous Predators, appearing more human-like and smaller in stature, which aligns with his character's underdog status. *Predator: Badlands* centers on Dek's story, but he is not alone on Kalisk. He forms an alliance with a character played by Elle Fanning, whose appearance suggests she might be a synth from the Alien franchise, as evidenced by the Weyland Yutani logo visible on her eyes.

Trachtenberg drew inspiration for the on-screen relationship between Dek and Fanning's character from the 2005 PlayStation masterpiece, *Shadow of the Colossus*. He highlighted the dynamic between a protagonist and a companion who adds depth and connection, much like the bond between the player and the horse in the game. "There's a thing with a horse in *Shadow of the Colossus* that's devastating when you play the game. And so [*Predator: Badlands*] was a little bit inspired by that in terms of wanting to see the Predator with someone else, this character who's the opposite of him. He's very laconic, [Fanning] is not. She's capable in ways that he is not. Physically, she's got a real thing that I'm so excited for you guys to see. But I want to let eventually some of that speak for itself," Trachtenberg explained.

While Trachtenberg remained tight-lipped about the Alien connections and the true nature of Fanning's character, he teased a unique aspect to her role that adds excitement to her pairing with Dek.

*Predator: Badlands* is set to launch on November 7, 2025. Before that, fans can look forward to Trachtenberg's animated anthology, *Predator: Killer of Killers*, which will be released in June.